BMI Cozies Up to SoundLand 2011

BMI partnered with Billy Reid and Ground Control Touring to present a Southern-bred showcase on Friday, September 23 at the Cannery Ballroom during SoundLand 2011 in Nashville.

Headliner Justin Townes Earle brought his provocative Tennessee-rambler songs; Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit fired off their Muscle Shoals-steeped swamp rock; Houston kid Robert Ellis proved that the folk-meets-twang still cultivated where West meets South is alive and well; and Alabama-bred, East Nashville-based singer/songwriter Shelly Colvin injected her soul-baring, soul-searing music into the mix.

The following morning, BMI and SoundLand partnered to offer brunch to hungry festival VIPs at Imogene + Willie’s. Eats and drinks were supplied by food trucks Riff’s and Taste of Belgium. Always a welcomed break, the annual brunch has continually provided artists and industry professionals a morning to recharge in the midst of the busy four-day music festival.

BMI is a longtime supporter of SoundLand—formerly dubbed Next Big Nashville. Industry players and music fanatics may be coming together under a new name, but SoundLand’s devotion to elevating and celebrating music’s bottomless well of new sounds rages stronger than ever. More than 100 performers, ranging from unsigned singer/songwriters to major label artists, played venues throughout downtown Nashville September 21-24.

BMI’s involvement with SoundLand—formerly Next Big Nashville—exemplifies the organization’s continued dedication to fostering auspicious new talent. BMI’s layered approach to songwriter development comprises educational, creative and promotional opportunities.